Evolution of infectious disease

Abstract

The prevailing wisdom concerning the evolution of infectious organisms or parasites is that the parasites should evolve toward benign coexistence with their hosts. This book is based on the premise that this idea is not based on the fundamental principles of evolution and is supported by very little evidence. As a result of this realization, two new disciplines are forming: evolutionary epidemiology and Darwinian medicine. The work discusses these subjects in a manner which can be understood by both specialists and the general reader. Graphs, photographs, a glossary, references, and an index supplement the text.